Nintendo launched its Donkey Kong Bananza Direct today, and it revealed a slew of new information surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 debut for DK.
Nintendo unleashed a wealth of information surrounding the new Donkey Kong Bananza Nintendo Switch 2 platformer, and first off, they opened the presentation by revealing the previous OddRock character has been replaced by Mario Odyssey‘s New Donk City Mayor, Pauline, but she appears smaller than she did in Odyssey. Pauline will be Donkey Kong’s companion throughout the adventure and will deploy singing techniques to help DK traipse through the newly revealed underground world he will be tasked with exploring. The Donkey Kong Bananza Direct is watchable just below, in case readers missed it.
The underground world is inhabited by numerous characters that can help DK on his quest, including Cranky Kong and Rambi the Rhino. The giant elders of the land call the underground world home and bestow ancient powers onto DK, so he gains new abilities. The giant elders give DK the ability to change into different animals on his quest, and the elders refer to this as ‘Bananza power.’ With Bananza, DK can change into animals that help travel through the landscape, including a zebra and an ostrich form (which is not new to the Donkey Kong series of games). These forms require management over the Bananza gauge (and Bananergy with it), which can be replenished by picking up gold.
The antagonists this time around are rival Kongs instead of the usual King K. Rool (who hasn’t been ruled out yet). The Donkey Kong Bananza Direct revealed that The Void Company, an antagonist mining corporation, is the new big bad. Led by Grumpy Kong, Poppy Kong, and Void Kong, these miscreant Kongs are responsible for the banana theft on Ingot Isle, and they’re aiming to descend to the planet’s core.
While chasing the Void Company, DK will encounter boss fights that will open new holes in the ground to descend to the next level in the underground world. The underground world is filled with collectibles and challenges meant for players to test their mettle with (and earn sweet Golden Banana rewards too).
Donkey Kong Bananza Direct also revealed there will be a skill tree for players to upgrade Donkey Kong’s abilities, and there will be a two-player mode where one character controls Donkey Kong himself, and the other plays as Pauline. Amiibo support for Bananza has also been confirmed, with a Donkey Kong & Pauline figure revealed, and scanning it grants Pauline’s Diva Dress.
While Pauline’s smaller-than-Mario Odyssey stature has yet to be explained, Donkey Kong Bananza will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025, alongside the new amiibo, so answers might be available then.
